Family Holidays in the Americas

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Stretching from the glacial lakes and boreal forests of Canada to the windswept wilds of Patagonia, the Americas are all about family Adventure with a capital A. Travelling with the kids to the lost city of Machu Picchu, snorkelling together over Cuban atolls, zip-lining through the cloud forests of Costa Rica or hiking glaciers in Alberta – anything’s possible when it comes to the world’s most colourful continents. Our trips in North, Central and South America are geared towards natural exploration and cultural immersion. Think of them as the cure for couch potatoes.

8 Days From
$2,630

Why choose Intrepid

Just for families

The clue’s in the title. These trips are for families only (including any aunts, uncles or cousins who’d like to come along, of course). As long as you’re travelling with a child under the age of 18, you’re a family in our eyes. Plus, unlike other travel companies, children aged 17 years and younger receive a 10% discount off the price of their trip.

Travel with other families

Travelling the Intrepid way is a bit like travelling with a group of friends. These trips are made up of 3–5 like-minded families, and the kids tend to hit it off straight away, allowing you to enjoy some well-earned R&R. We often find the whole family ends up making friendships with people from all over the world, staying in touch long after the adventure ends.

Small group sizes

Intrepid’s family group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some out-of-the-way places, but big enough for a good social mix. Our average group size of 10 allows us to hop aboard local boats, buses or trains, eat at friendly, family-run restaurants and kick back in traditional accommodation and homestays.

Action packed

We know the biggest challenge on a family trip is keeping the kids entertained. So we’ve planned in advance. Nearly all of our hotels feature pools, and each day has a great mix of action-packed adventure and flexible free time. Your local leader can also suggest activities based on your kid’s hobbies or school curriculum.

Safety first

Our leaders are specially trained to run family adventures, so you’re well taken care of. You can also rest easy knowing we conduct safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy.

Responsible travel

The world’s an amazing place and we want to do our bit to keep it that way. That’s why we choose to travel responsibly, giving back to the communities we visit and helping to create a sustainable world for our children. For us, it’s also about educating the next generation of responsible travellers.

Highlights of the Americas

Green beaches? Check. An intriguing history? Check. Mega wildlife-watching opportunities? Of course. Isla Floreana has long been considered a highlight of the archipelago, famous for its 18th-century wooden postbox where the ships of yore came to collect the mail. Travellers can still post letters in it today.

Meet the local artisans, farmers and townsfolk of the Sacred Valley, a place where tiny farming hamlets dot the landscape and oxen still tend the fields. And let’s not forget the cute alpacas and vicunas. A scenic walk through the Andes leads to Chinchero, where the locals invite you in for the night.

Blinding white sands and amazing Maya ruins are the stars of the show on this far eastern outpost of Mexico’s coastline. Laze about on Tulum’s pristine shore, explore Coba Archaeological site by bicycle and go snorkelling in a limestone cave in the jungle at Xkeken Tourstation.

Not many countries combine jungle and beach like Costa Rica. Enjoy some time in Manuel Antonio Park, where the options seem endless. Hiking, horse riding, zip-lining, kayaking and dolphin-spotting are all good ways to explore this Pacific paradise. If it all gets too much, just while away the day on a secluded beach.

Fun and games in the Americas

After a trip to the local aquarium, feel the California breeze in your hair on a kayaking excursion across beautiful Monterey Bay. This is the best way to explore this amazing and diverse ecosystem. Keep an eye out for sea lions and otters, maybe even a whale far off in the distance.

Peel yourself away from Tulum’s perfect beaches and enjoy a leisurely bike ride around the ruins of Coba. This is the major joining point of the most incredible network of ancient Maya ruins in existence. It spans more than 80 square kilometres (30 square miles), but with local leadership you’ll go straight to the best stuff.

Visit a local farm to see how things are still done the old-fashioned way in the Andes, learning about age-old techniques of dyeing, spinning and weaving alpaca wool. Then it's off to explore the awesome Inca ruins, which are spread out on the mountains above the town.

Where we stay

From quality hotels in Costa Rica to camping along the Inca Trail, we always look to strike the right balance between comfort and authenticity. We want to make it fun and give you a cultural insight, but not at the expense of a comfortable holiday. In the Galapagos, we find it’s better to stay on land, rather than a boat (lots of extra space for the kids to run around). In Cuba we like to use a mix of Cuban hotels and traditional guesthouses (known as Casa Particulares).

With a strong emphasis on family, Cuba is one of those countries in which an experience of home life is priceless. Whether it’s a homestay on the Caribbean coast or a two-day stint with a Havana family, it’s the best way to get to know the culture and customs as they really are.

As an Australian-owned business, we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past, present and future.

Intrepid Travel is a proud member of the Intrepid Group, the global leader in delivering sustainable experience-rich travel. Find out more

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